Can-opener.



No. 661L507. HI FLANDERS Patented Nov. I3, i900.

CAN OPENER.

(Application filed July. 27, 1899.

(No Model.)

6 Hanna L t a x w a HERBERT FLANDERS, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN FOSTER, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 661,507, datedNovember 13, 1900. Application filed July 27, 1899. Serial No. 725,258.(No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT FLANDERS, a resident of Manchester, in thecounty of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

The invention relates to so-called canopeners, and has for its object toincrease their efficiency.

In the use of prior can-openers the edges of the tin that is being outhug the blade and obstruct its forward movement.

My improvement comprises a blade having a longitudinally-curved portionadjacent the handle, said portion having a transversely-convex surfaceto roll the out edge of the can-top and having also a cutting edgeadjacent the handle to bite the can-flange in operation and preferablyhaving such a cutting edge on both sides to permit either a right orleft hand use, the handle by preference being provided on each side witha shoulder to bear against the side of the can. The shoulder is,however, not essential for the reason that the curved part of the knifeadjacent the handle has a cutting edge that can in operation be made tocut into a can-flange with the effect to hold the knife from slippingwhile manipulating it to out the can-top.

The invention consists in the construction herein described and pointedout.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the improvedopener in operation. Fig. 2 is a plan of the opener. Fig. 3 is an edgeelevation. Fig. 4. is a section showing the blade in operation. Fig. 5is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Numeral 1 denotes the handle, and 2 the blade, of the improvedcan-opener, which can be made of any usual or suitable metal, the bladeand handle being preferably integral. The blade is made with a sharppoint, as customary, and is approximately of the contour shown, beingwidest at its base. This form is incidental to the curved and convexform of the handle end of the blade and is not otherwise essential. Theforward end of the blade by preference is situated in the same plane asthe handle. The rear portion of the body of the blade is curved out ofthis plane, as indicated at 3, providing a convex portion of the body ofthe blade fora purpose to be explained. This curve is transverse to saidplane, which passes through the handle and forward end of the blade andhas an extent about equal to half the length of the blade. Both edges ofthe blade are cutting edges, so that it can be used with either theright or the left hand.

The handle has or may have its end wider than the blade to provideshoulders 4, one of which in operation may bear against the side of acan, while some part of the edge of the curved portion of the bladeengages the edge of the can-top near its periphery. An important officeof the shoulder is to arrest the blade in case it slips through themetal in entering its point, and thus prevent accidental injury to thehand.

The effect of the convexity 3 of the blade is to roll the cut edge ofthe can-top toward its center and out of the path of the blade (see 3,Fig. 4) when it is thrust forward subsequent to a cutting stroke toprepare for another, the stroke being effected by hearing down on thehandle and using the can edge as a fulcrum, as usual in this class ofcan-openers. In such operation the sharp edge of the curved portion ofthe blade hearing on and cutting into the can edge will obviateslipping.

The cutting is efiected by the upper edge of the blade and by that partof it which is adjacent to or joins the curved and straight portions.The effect of the convexity 3, formed and situated as set forth and bestshown in Figs. 1 and 4, is to turn the edge of the tin on the inside ofthe blade in a manner somewhat resembling the action of a plow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A can-opener having ahandle, a blade project-ing therefrom having a longitudinallycurved andtransversely-convex portion next the handle, said curvedtransversely-convex part having a cutting edge adapted to bear on theedge of the can as a fulcrum.

2. A can-opener having a handle, a blade specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT FLANDERS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. HADLEY, A. A. MARTIN.

